Improvement in signal-lanterns



- \A/iTN F55 E5 E. W. GERRISH.

SIGNAL LANTERN.

No.185,4;-4;O. Patented Dec. 19,- 1876.

' ywww JMW TN: GRAPHIC CD-N-Y or chimney of colored glass.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD W. GERRISH, OF SALISBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.

,IMPROYEMENTIN SlGNAL-LANTERNS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent 0. 185,440, dated December 19, 1876; application filed December 8, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. GERRISH, of Salisbury,- in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Signal-Lantern, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to an improvement in that class of signal-lanterns in which a colored chimney is made to slide up and down, so as to expose a plain light or cause a colored light to be shown; and the invention consists in so constructing and applying the devices for operating the colored chimney as to enable it to be readily adopted to a certain class of lanterns already made, and so that the operative mechanism may be easily manipulated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a lantern embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same.

The lantern is of the kind commonly used on railroads and about railroadstations. The base of the lantern g is made somewhat wider than usual, so as to protect the wires that operate the sliding colored chimney. a represents the lamp or oil reservoir, the lower portion a. being of metal. b represents a shade It is attached at the lower end to a perforated metal disk, 6, (see Fig. 3,) which is provided with a collar, h, projecting downward, and fitting over the wick-tube holder, as shown in Fig. 1. To the under part of the perforated disk 0 are attached three rods or wires, 0, which pass down in the space between the oil-reservoir a and the casing of the lantern, and are united together at their lower ends. The wires 0 move in guides d, attached to the lower part a of the oil-reservoir. To the lower connection of the wires 0 is attached a ring, 1, by which they are drawn down. The wires 0 are held in an elevated position, when the colored glass b is raised to expose the plain light, by means of a spring-catch, f, as seen in Fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows the colored glass 6 as drawn down, with the collar h fitting snugly around the wicktube holder, by which means it is held firmly in position in connection with the guides d, through which the wires 0 pass.

When a plain light is required it is only necessary to press up the wires 0, when the colored glass 1) will be raised clear of the light of the lantern, the wire being securely held by the spring-catch f. The central hole in the perforated disk 6 admits of a draft, which serves to give a steady light to the flame of the lamp.

When it is desirable to show acolored light it is only necessary, the lantern being held by the bail in one hand, to press the thumb of the other hand on the spring-catch f, and, with the forefinger in the ring 7, draw down the wires 0 with the colored glass b.

The great advantage of my improvement is the facility with which it can be adapted to a ready-made lantern, and the ease and quickness in operating the colored glass, so that it can be readily changed from a plain to a colored light, and vice versa.

I am aware that a sliding colored shade has been used in connection with a lantern; this I do not claim but What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, in a lantern, of the colored glass or chimney b, the perforated disk 0, provided with the collarh, the oil-reservoir a a, the sliding wires or rods 0, passing in guides d on the outside of the lamp, and the spring-catch f, together with the enlarged base 9, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD W. GERRISH.

Witnesses:

J. H. ADAMS, E. A. STooK. 

